Mail-box.



S. T. WHITAKER.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED oo'r. a1. 1907.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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S. T. WHITAKER.

MAIL BOX. APPLI UATION FILED OUT. 31, 1907. 902,848. Patented N0v.3, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PlIEN T OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. WHITAKER, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO RURAL AUTOMATIC MAIL BOX COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, A. CORPORATION OF GEORGIA.

MAIL-B OK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SAMUEL 'l. Wnrr- AKICR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Muscogec and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-l3oxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in containers, and particularly to such as are adapted for the reception of mail matter.

One of the objects in view is the production of a mail box designed to prevent the admission of moisture and to facilitate the drainage of moisture which may enter.

A further object in view is the provision of a shift-able signal which shall be cheap and simple and susceptible of ready manipulation.

With these and further detail objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a box embodying the features of the present invention, a fragment of the box being broken away for the saving of space. Fig. 2 is a front end view thereof, the signal support being indicated in section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, central section taken on the plane indicated by line 3, 3 of Fig. 2, a fragment of the box being broken away and the door being indicated as closed. Fi 4 is a similar view of the same with the oor indicated in its open position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail, fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated by line 5, 5 of Fig. 2, and looking downwardly.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a mail box body or casing of any preferred shape, having a bottom 2. The box 1 is provided with an intake and discharge end 3 the upper portion of which is formed of a transverse plate having an in wardly inclined portion 6 leading to a door 7. A horizontal slot or opening 4 is formed in the inclined portion 6 and is guarded by an outwardly projecting overhanging flange 5, the flange 5 being preferably formed by stamping the material of the inclined portion 6 outwardly when forming slot 4. To further guard the slot 4 for preventing ready admission of moisture, I preferably provide a valve-like leaf 4 which is pivoted at its upper edge as at 4 and its lower edge is adapted when in its lowermost position to rest against the inner face of the inclined portion 6. Obviously when a letter or other article is introduced through the slot 4 the flap or leaf 4 will be lifted thereby until the letter has been thrust into the box, whereupon the leaf will drop to the closed position.

The sides of the box 1 are preferably cutaway, as at 8, corresponding to the incline 6. The door7 is pivotally mounted onapintle 9 extending transversely, horizontally through the box and secured therein, the pintle 9 being saaced below the lower edge of the inclined portion 6 a sufiieient distance for accommodating the door 7 and the movement thereof for permitting the door to be swung to the horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 4. The door 7 extends upwardly past the pintle 9, as indicated at 10, which produces an abutment preventing the discharge of moisture from the inner surface of the inclined portion 6 from passing on into the interior of the box, the space between the door 7 and the lower edge of the incline permittin such moisture to readily pass outside of the ox.

The end edges of the sides of the box 1 are formed with inclines 11 leading out wardly from the lower edge of the inclined portion 6 so that when the door 7 is in its closed position, as indicated in Fig. 3, the same will be inclined. The lower edge of the door is provided with a transverse, stiffening plate 12 which may be suitably secured to the door in any preferred manner. An aperture 13 is formed in the plate 12 and door 7 in position for registering with a similar aperture 14 formed in a flange 15 de ending from the bottom 2, so that a mem er of a lock may be thrust through said a ertures when in register for retaining the door 7 against being opened by unauthorized ersons.

The substantia ly vertical edges of the door 7 are preferably formed with a transverse crimp 13 producing a longitudinal recess 14' into which the inclined edges 11 extend when the door 7 is closed. This form of joint is clearly indicated in Fig. 5 and effectually serves to exclude moisture.

It is one of the rules enforced by the Post- Oflice Department that when a rural delivery collection box contains mail for collection by the postman, a signal shall be displayed, and in order to facilitate compliance with this rule, a socket 15 is provided at one side of the box 1, and a pin or bolt 16 is fixed above the socket to the box and is provided with a head or wing nut 17. A flag signal 19 is carried by the rod 20 which is formed with a return portion 21 wrapped about or otherwise secured to the rod 20, as at 22, intermediate the length of the rod 20 thus producing a longitudinal slot 23. Through the slot 23 extends a pin 16, projecting from the side of the box, so that the flag 19 may be retained in its raised position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1 by having the lower end of the rod with its return portion disposed within the socket 15. hen it is desired to lower the signal after the removing of the mail matter, it is only necessary to lift the shaft 20 until the lower end thereof escapes from the socket 15 and then to swing the shaft until the lower end thereof passes to one side of the socket. Releasing of the shaft at this point will permit the same to drop to a lowered position such for instance as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In practice, the operator will thrust the letter into the slot 4; and the same may be removed by lifting the door 7 and insert ing thehand. In the meantime, if during a rain storm moisture is driven through the slot 4 it will naturally fall upon the inner surface of the inclined portion 6 and drain ing down such inclined portion will not be permitted to enter further into the interior of the box, but will strike against abutment 10 and be drained down outside the door 7. It is to be observed that the normally inclined position of the door when closed insures the tight closing of the door, when released by the operator, regardless of whether he takes care to see that the door is closed or not.

In rural districts it is common to deposit money in a box so that the postman in taking up or delivering mail can also take the money and leave postage stamps, and in order to prevent the coin from being overlooked or lost in the packages in the box I provide a coin rack which consists of helical springs 25 secured preferably in a vertical. position by means of bolts or rivets 26-26 engaging the ends of the springs. When it is desired to leave a coin or coins it is only necessary to place the coin or coins between the coils of the springs so that the same will be clamped thereby and held in view of the operator when inserting his hand for removing or introducing the mail. The stamps may of course be positioned between the coils of the spring so as to prevent their being lost or injured.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a mail box, the combination, with an inclosing casing, of an end plate therefor, formed with an intake slot and an inclined portion below said slot, and a door hinged beneath the said inclined portion and formed with an extension projecting into the box above and beyond the lower edge of the inclined portion.

2. In a mail box, the combination, withan inclosing casing, of an end plate therefor having a vertical portion and an inclined portion, and being formed with a slot and a guard flange projecting from the plate above the slot, and a door hinged beneath the inclined portion and extending past the same into the interior of the casing, the door being positioned on an incline when closed, opposing the incline of said inclined portion.

3. In a mail box, the combination, with an inclosing casing, of an end plate therefor formed with an intake slot and an inclined portion spaced beneath the slot and extending toward the interior of the casing, and a door hinged beneath the lower edge of said inclined slot and extending upwardly beyond its hinge past said ed e and downwardly and outwardly and adapted to rest, when closed, c ainst the end edges of the said casing, sai edges being outwardly and downwardly inclined.

1. In a mail box, the combination, with an inclosing casing, of an end plate therefor formed with an inwardly inclined portion having an intake slot, and a pivoted leaf disposed within the casing and positioned for lying by gravity across the slot, and an access door for said casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL T. WHITAKER.

Witnesses:

EDGAR M. KITCHIN, CHRISTIE H. FESLER. 

